Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that have been widely used in various industries, including manufacturing, firefighting, and consumer products. However, these chemicals have also been found to contaminate drinking water supplies across the United States.
In this article, we will explore the different types of PFAS, their effects on human health, and what you can do if your water system is participating in UCMR testing.
Types of PFAS
There are many types of PFAS, but some of the most common ones include:
- 4:2 FTS (perfluoroheptanoic acid)
- Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
- 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
- Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO–DA) (GenX)
- Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
These chemicals are used in various products, such as non-stick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foam.
Effects on Human Health
PFAS have been linked to several health problems, including:
- Cancer: Exposure to PFAS has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, particularly kidney and testicular cancer.
- Reproductive issues: PFAS have been shown to affect reproductive hormones and increase the risk of birth defects.
- Neurological effects: Exposure to PFAS has been linked to neurological problems, such as ADHD and cognitive impairment.
UCMR Testing
The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) is a program established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor for certain contaminants in drinking water. The UCMR 5 testing began in January 2023 and will continue through December 2025.
If your water system is participating in UCMR testing, you can expect to see results that indicate whether certain PFAS are present in your drinking water at what levels they are found.
What Do the Test Results Mean?
The test results are used to help determine whether certain contaminants are found in drinking water, at what levels they are found, and in which parts of the country. The EPA will use this information to evaluate whether to begin regulating some or all of these PFAS.
What Happens After UCMR Testing?
After UCMR testing is complete, the EPA may conduct an evaluation to determine whether to regulate some or all of the PFAS that were tested for. If a PFAS is found to be present in drinking water at levels above what is considered safe, the EPA may establish a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for that substance.
In many cases, utilities will test for these contaminants at very low levels. This does not mean that those contaminants have been determined to be harmful at those levels. The EPA sets these testing levels based on the capabilities of current analytical methods and the agency's need to identify reference concentrations.
###PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been found to contaminate drinking water supplies across the United States. These chemicals have been linked to several health problems, including cancer, reproductive issues, and neurological effects. The UCMR 5 testing is an important step in evaluating whether to regulate some or all of these PFAS. If your water system is participating in UCMR testing, you can expect to see results that indicate whether certain PFAS are present in your drinking water at what levels they are found.
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